Rahmi Kılıç

Background/aim: To assess the histopathological effects of three preservation solutions (70% ethanol, povidone-iodine, and ciprofloxacin) on human septal cartilage obtained during septoplasty and to compare their preservation characteristics for potential future graft applications. Optimal preservation of septal cartilage is clinically important because well-preserved grafts may reduce the need for secondary cartilage harvesting and the associated donor-site morbidity while facilitating reconstructive procedures during revision surgery. Materials and methods: A total of 90 septal cartilage specimens obtained from 30 patients undergoing septoplasty were allocated to three preservation groups and stored in the designated preservation solutions at +4 °C. Samples were examined histologically on days 0, 15, and 30. The evaluated parameters included chondrocyte count/cellularity, the percentage of empty lacunae, chondrocyte morphology, erosion score, inflammation, and necrosis. Evaluations were blinded. Results: Progressive time-dependent histomorphological deterioration was observed in all preservation groups. From baseline to day 30, the ciprofloxacin group showed a greater reduction in chondrocyte count and a greater increase in the percentage of empty lacunae than the povidone-iodine group (adjusted p = 0.043 and p = 0.029, respectively). Although ethanol showed relatively favorable morphological findings at day 15, substantial deterioration was observed by day 30. Chondrocyte morphology and erosion scores also deteriorated over time. Inflammation and necrosis remained minimal across all groups. Conclusion: All tested preservation solutions were associated with progressive, time-dependent histomorphological deterioration of septal cartilage. No single preservation solution demonstrated consistently superior preservation across all evaluated histopathological parameters. Further biomechanical and biochemical studies are required to establish optimal cartilage preservation protocols.

Aim: The loss of smell is a common disease and can affect a patient’s quality of life. Olfactory disturbance leads to problems such as safety and eating. Acne vulgaris is a prevalent disease in the daily clinical practice of a dermatologist. Doxycycline and isotretinoin are the most preferred systemic drugs for severe acne. This study aimed to investigate the possible effects on olfactory function in patients with acne vulgaris receiving isotretinoin and doxycycline therapy by using the Brief Smell Identification Test. Material and Method: A total of 60 patients with acne vulgaris were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 30 patients. One group received oral doxycycline, while the other received oral isotretinoin. The olfactory function of each patient in both groups was assessed at the beginning and third month of treatment by using the Brief Smell Identification Test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the total scores of the Brief Smell Identification Test at 0. and 3. months in both the isotretinoin group and the doxycycline group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that both drugs are safe and have no undesirable effect on olfactory function. However, the certain effects of both drugs on olfactory functions still remain unknown. New studies are needed to shed light on this issue.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are actions apart from getting vaccinated and medications, in order to promote deceleration of the spread of illness among people and communities during pandemic. In this article, we aim to examine NPIs applied in Turkey and worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the NPIs such as isolation, quarantine, and contact tracing were maintained with updates of the Ministry of Health guidelines in Turkey. Some NPIs including travel and partial or full curfew mobilization restrictions were set in accordance with the various periods by the number of cases. Periods of restrictions at autumn 2021 to summer 2022 are national partial curfews, national extended curfews, local decision-making phase, revised local decision-making phase, partial lockdown, full lockdown and gradual normalization. Mitigation and suppression have been implemented in Turkey with restrictions of varying severity throughout the course of the epidemic. It is seen that the restrictions implemented in Turkey contributed to the flattening of the epidemic curve. Even some countries mainly applied the suppression method, and others applied the mitigation method, in general, it is seen that similar methods were applied with different weights. Examples of different countries demonstrated that NPIs are effective for flattening epidemic curve. NPI have been the main instrument for a year and a half from the beginning of the epidemic to mid-2021 in Turkey as well as worldwide.

The cases of foreign bodies in the neck can be iatrogenic or traumatic. Cases of gunshot wounds, incisors and penetrating tool injuries are some of the examples. Large arteries and veins, trachea and neural structures can be damaged. The fact that the foreign body migrate in the neck structures and fascia is a rare but expected condition. Therefore, foreign bodies can be found in unexpected places. In our case, a 37-year-old male patient was consulted to our clinic with multiple cuts and foreign body. A foreign body was observed anterior to the cervical vertebra in the patient's radiological imaging and underwent surgery emergently. After the migration, the foreign body was found and removed in the nasopharynx of the patient. In the practice of ear-nose-throat medicine. During the practice of Ear Nose and Throat speciality, attention should be paid to the foreign bodies of the neck because of their close relation with vital structures.

En tr Aim : We aimed to evaluate the presentation and distribution of pathologic and clinical data of patients who were operated with benign vocal cord lesions in our clinic. Material and Method: The study was performed with retrospective evaluation of patient files diagnosed as benign vocal cord lesions between December 2013 and March 2017 at Kırıkkale University Medical Faculty Otorhinolaryngology Department. Results: Their average age was 47.8 a total of 108 patients were analyzed. Twenty four patients (22.3%) were female and 84 patients (77.7%) were male. According to pathological results of patients, 61 patients results were vocal cord polyp (56.4%), 20 patients results were leukoplakia (18.5%), 11 patients were Reinke’s edema (10.1%), 7 patients were laryngeal cyst (6.4%), 6 patients were vocal cord nodule (5.5%), 2 patients were laryngeal papillomatosis (1.8%), 1 patient was laryngocele (0.9%). Conclusion: Patients with benign vocal cord lesions are most frequently encountered with vocal cord polyp in pathology results. With the evaluation of pathological results of benign vocal cord lesions of each clinic, data on the distribution of the results of benign vocal cord lesions in our country can be created. Amaç: Kliniğimizde opere olan benign vokal kord lezyonları hastaların patolojik ve klinik verilerinin sunulması ve dağılım yüzdelerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kulak Burun Boğaz Anabilim Dalında Aralık 2013 - Mart 2017 tarihleri arasında benign vokal kord lezyonları tanısı alan hasta dosyalarının retrospektif olarak değerlendirilmesi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Ortalama yaşları 47,8 olan toplam 108 hastanın verileri incelendi. Hastaların 24’ü (%22,3) kadın 84’ü (%77,7) erkek idi. Hastaların patoloji sonuçları 61 (%56,4) vokal kord polipi, 20 (%18,5) değişik derecelerde keratotik lezyon olan lökoplazi, 11 (%10,1) Reinke ödemi, 7 (%6,4) larengeal kist, 6 (%5,5) vokal kord nodülü, 2 (%1,8) larinks papillomatozu ve 1 (%0,9) larengosel olarak kaydedildi. Hastaların 76’sının (%70,3) anamnezinde sigara öyküsü olduğu gözlendi. Sonuç: Benign vokal kord lezyonları bulunan hastaların patoloji sonuçlarında en sık vokal kord polipi ile karşılaşılmaktadır. Her kliniğin benign vokal kord lezyonları patoloji sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi ile ülkemizdeki benign vokal kord lezyonları sonuçlarının dağılımı ile ilgili veriler oluşturulabilir.

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is the most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. This study aimed to evaluate the blood parameters of children with ATH who underwent surgery. The study included a review of the medical records of 130 children who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy with a diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy and/or chronic tonsillitis. Patients were classified into 3 groups: group 1 (n=69) underwent adenoidectomy, group 2 (n=61) underwent adenotonsillectomy, and group 3 consisted of 82 healthy children. White blood cell count, platelet count, hemoglobin levels, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width values were the primary outcome measures. Mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and hemoglobin values decreased in the groups that underwent surgery. Whereas the decrease in group 1 was insignificant, it was significant in group 2. White blood cell count values increased in both group 1 (adenoidectomy) and group 2 (adenotonsillectomy), but the increase in group 2 was significant. No significant difference in platelet count was detected before versus after the operation. Upper airway obstruction caused by ATH remarkably changes the blood parameters related to chronic hypoxia. Significant improvement can be achieved after adenotonsillectomy rather than adenoidectomy alone.